Microchip Announces New Certified Wireless Connectivity Solutions Targeting Wi-Fi and Sub-GHz Applications

Microchip announces the availability of two new wireless connectivity solutions targeting both the certified IEEE802.11 (Wi-Fi) market and the Sub-GHz ISM bands. The combination of Microchip’s next-generation transceiver solutions, development tools and software provides industry-leading platforms for designers to wirelessly-enable a wide range of monitoring and control products.

The next-generation, agency-certified MRF24WB0MA/MB embedded Wi-Fi® transceiver module’s firmware has an easy-to-use API driver interface to Microchip’s free TCP/IP Protocol stack and 8-, 16- or 32-bit PIC® microcontrollers. Microchip’s low-power embedded Wi-Fi modules are helping to enable the “Internet of Things” by removing the complexity and cost of developing RF circuitry and obtaining agency certification. Additionally, Microchip has improved its free TCP/IP stack, and offers free EZconfig and ZeroConfig utility protocols, to make commissioning and configuring Wi-Fi networks easy.

The new MRF89XA transceiver offers extremely low receive current of 3mA, a 12.5dBm Power Amplifier for long transmission distances and a Low Noise Amplifier for -113dBm enhanced receive sensitivity. An integrated packet handler with a 64byte FIFO for transmit and receive buffering further extends battery life in 868, 915 and 950 MHz Sub-GHz wireless networks. The 868 MHz MRF89XAM8A and 915 MHz MRF89XAM9A transceiver modules accelerate design cycles by removing the complexity of designing RF circuitry and the cost of obtaining agency certification.

Microchip has also created the MRF24WB0MA PICtail™/PICtail Plus Daughter Board (part # AC164136-4, $59.99) to enable development with the new Wi-Fi module. The MRF89XAM8A (part # AC164138-1) and MRF89XAM9A (part # AC164138-2) PICtail/PICtail Plus Daughter Boards are expected to be available in Calendar Q3 2010, to enable development of 868 and 915 MHz applications, respectively.